Welcome to our
Segment
Today Kaylin Stinski from www.petwellnessadvisor.com is joining us to talk about....
When Should I Vaccinate My Kitten?
Introducing a kitten into your home is an
exciting experience, but it can also be a little overwhelming. You need to make
sure that you have everything they need, kittenfood, a litterbox, a bed, and plenty of toys. These things are simple to
get done in a quick trip to the local pet store, but what about the other
things like vaccines? Here we are going to break down what vaccines you should
give your kitten and when. Feline core vaccines are vaccines that are recommended for all kittens with an unknown vaccine history. These
consist of the feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV1), feline calicivirus (FCV), feline
panleukopenia (FPV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV – Kittens), and rabies.
Corevaccines are recommended for all kittens both indoor and outdoor. This will
help them at least build some basic immunity even if you are planning on
keeping your kitten inside. There are always unpredictable things that can
occur and you want to make sure that your kitten has some immunity just in case
they escape one day. Once they have received their initial core vaccines you
can discuss with your veterinarian whether or not you would like to continue
with the yearly, or 3-year boosters. Rabies* is required by law for your cat to
have, even if they are indoor only.
Feline
herpesvirus 1 (FHV1), feline calicivirus (FCV), feline panleukopenia (FPV)
virus - Core
These vaccines should be given to kittens starting from 6-8 weeks of age and should be given every 3-4 weeks until the final booster after 16 weeks of age. If your kitten is over 16 weeks of age, two doses of the vaccine are necessary at 3-4 weeks apart. After a booster at 6 months to one year, revaccination is recommended every 3 year thereafter for cats with low risk of exposure.
Feline
rabies - Core
For kittens 12-16 weeks of age, boosters at yearly intervals for recombinant vaccines which are recommended because there is some evidence of decreased risk of sarcoma formation. Killed rabies vaccine booster is required at one year, and then it can be performed every 3 years using a vaccine approved for a 3 year administration.
FeLV
- Non-core vaccine, but is highly recommended
FeLV-negative kittens that will be allowed to go outdoors or will potentially be in contact with other cats with unknown FeLV status. This vaccine is not recommended for indoor kittens or those who are not likely to have exposure to other cats. Starting at 8 weeks of age, 2 doses of FeLV vaccine are given at 2-4 week intervals, until they are 16 weeks of age, after which, annual boosters for recombinant vaccines, or 3 year boosters for inactivated vaccines.
There are other vaccines that are available
for cats that are none core vaccines. These consist of the Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Chlamydophila felis, and Bordetella
bronchiseptica vaccines. These vaccines may be recommended on a case by case
basis, but are not considered core vaccines that will give your kitten the greatest
amount of protection. There are also the Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
and the Feline Giardia vaccines out there but they are not generally
recommended. These vaccines have insufficient research and studies to support
their effectiveness.
There is evidence that vaccine frequency
for cats should be reduced due to the appearance of vaccine-associated sarcomas
in cats. Make sure you monitor the injection sites after your kitten has been
vaccinated and feel to see if there is any growths that develop after the
vaccine dissipates. If one does, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian
immediately. Though sarcomas can occur, this does not mean you should not
vaccinate your kitten at all, but rather be attentive to the newest vaccine
guidelines and vaccinate for what your kitten truly needs.
Author Bio:
Kaylin Stinski: Throughout my life, I have always been very passionate about animals and have worked in the veterinary medicine field for the last 10 years. Outside of working directly with the animals, I really enjoy educating clients on the overall care of their pets; not only from a medical perspective but also discussing general concerns such as behavioral interventions and preventative care. Writer at Pet Wellness Advisor.
Thank mew furry much fur such an informative article Kaylin, with some really great tips and advice fur your new kitten, and if mew'd like to see Kaylin's previous guest post:-
Kaylin Stinski: Throughout my life, I have always been very passionate about animals and have worked in the veterinary medicine field for the last 10 years. Outside of working directly with the animals, I really enjoy educating clients on the overall care of their pets; not only from a medical perspective but also discussing general concerns such as behavioral interventions and preventative care. Writer at Pet Wellness Advisor.
Thank mew furry much fur such an informative article Kaylin, with some really great tips and advice fur your new kitten, and if mew'd like to see Kaylin's previous guest post:-
Create The Purrfect Environment For Your Happy Kitty
We'll see mew on the morrow with the next chapter in our latest, spine-tingling adventure, The Clockwurk Labyrinth, so we hope mew can join us then to catch up on the action and find out what the fluff is going to happen next!
Bestest purrs
The B Team
